Foldable tent camping unit

ABSTRACT

A foldable tent camping unit particularly conceived for making a tent trailer, arranged when unfolded to cover about three times the ground surface covered by the same when folded, and using a convenient linkage and spring arrangement to produce spring assisted folding and unfolding. A tent trailer including a main platform section and one or two extension platform sections hinged to the former and of approximately the same size thereof, an elbow shape lever pivotally connected to the main platform section and to a corresponding extension platform section to pivot with the latter and a spring counteracting the weight of the corresponding extension platform section to assist folding and unfolding thereof. A tent material arranged to stay permanently fixed peripherally to the platform sections and erectable frames pivoted to the latter under said tent material and collapsibly supporting the latter.

Giroux [451 Apr. 3,1973

[54] FOLDABLE TENT CAMPING UNIT [58] Field of Search ..296/23 R, 23 F,23 G, 23 H, 296/27, 26; 135/4 A, 4 R, l A; 52/64 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,506,299 4/1970 Arnold et a1 ..296/23 R 3,288,52111/1966 Patnode ..296/23 R Primary Examiner-Philip Goodman AssistantExaminer-John Carroll Attorney-Pierre Lesperance [57] ABSTRACT Afoldable tent camping unit particularly conceived for making a tenttrailer, arranged when unfolded to cover about three times the groundsurface covered by the same when folded, and using a convenient linkageand spring arrangement to produce spring assisted folding and unfolding.A tent trailer including a main platform section and one or twoextension platform sections hinged to the former and of approximatelythe same size thereof, an elbow shape lever pivotally connected to themain platform section and to a corresponding extension platform sectionto pivot with the latter and a spring counteracting the weight of thecorresponding extension platform section to assist folding and unfoldingthereof. A tent material arranged to stay permanently fixed peripherallyto the platform sections and erectable frames pivoted to the latterunder said tent material and collapsibly supporting the latter.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures .PATENTEDAPRB I975 3,724,893

SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR Pierre R. G/ROUX @MMENT PAIENTEDAPM 1975 SHEET 2OF 3 /NVNTCT "JR 7 'Pierre R. G/ROUX 751 (7415 BY WT F LDABLE TENTCAMPING UNIT This invention relates to a foldable tent camping unit and,more particularly, to a foldable tent trailer.

There are known concepts of foldable tent trailers having panels orplatform sections providing, when unfolded, an extended camping space.

Each of the known foldable tent trailers presents one or more of thefollowing disadvantages or limitations, taken either singly or incombinations. The floor surface remains the same when the trailer isunfolded. The extendible sections, when unfolded or extended, do notcover more than double the ground surface, which is covered by thetrailer when folded. Complex mechanisms are used to displace the floorextension section. The tent material has to be peripherally detached atleast in part from the solid sections to allow proper folding.

The present invention relates to a new concept of foldable camping unitor tent trailer which avoids the above disadvantages or limitations.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a foldable tenttrailer which can be made into an unusually large unfolded size whilebeing easy to fold and unfold by hand.

It is another object of the invention to provide a foldable tent trailerwith a floor extension platform section pivotally connected to a mainplatform section and arranged for easy handling thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a foldable tentcamping unit with a main platform section and a pair of extensionplatform sections of approximately the same size to cover, whenunfolded, substantially three times the ground surface covered therebywhen folded.

It is another object of the invention to provide a foldable tent campingunit with a linkage and spring arrangement wherein the tension of thespring in conjunction with the pivoting of an associated extensionplatform section is harnessed in such a way as to counterbalance theweight of the latter, to assist both folding and unfolding of the sameextension platform section.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a foldable tentcamping unit with a main section and two pivoted sections arranged tofold one over another and provided with a tent material which remainspermanently fixed peripherally to the pivoted sections.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference topreferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of exampleonly, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic end view of a first embodiment of a foldablecamping unit according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are end views corresponding to the view of FIG. 1 butshowing the foldable elements in equilibrium and unfolded positionsrespectively;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a foldable tenttrailer constructed according to the principle of the invention;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are end views of the foldable tent trailer of FIG. 4,shown in folded, partly unfolded, and completely unfolded positionsrespectively;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the folded tent trailershown in FIG. and

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the unfolded tent trailershown in FIG. 7.

Reference will first be made to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 which schematicallyillustrate an embodiment of the invention and, more particularly, thelinkage and spring concept thereof, which is constructed and arranged toassist folding and unfolding of the tent camping unit.

The invention basically includes a main trailer platform section 1, anextension platform section 2, an elbow-shape lever 3, a spring 4, ahinge 5, and a compensating link 6. The section 1 constitutes a box openat the top, as are generally the trailer boxes of the most common types.The section 2 is arranged to form a bedding holding shallow box, asshown, or a cover for the section 1 and is like the latter provided witha peripheral wall arranged to confine camping equippivotally connectedat the free end to one end of the compensating link 6 and a lever armportion 9 which has one end of the spring 4 secured thereto. The otherend of the compensating link 6 is pivoted to the cover or extensionplatform section 2. The hinge 5 may be of any suitable type to pivotallysupport the section 2 along one lateral edge or side wall of the mainplatform section 1. The spring 4 is fixedly secured at its other endrelative to the main platform section 1.

It will readily be understood by comparing FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 that thelever 3 is displaced with the extension platform section 2, whereby thefree end of the lever arm portion 9 describes a circular path whichpasses closest to the fixed end of the spring 4 when the section 2 is inthe elevated intermediate equilibrium position, shown in FIG. 2. In theequilibrium position, the section 2 has its weight acting verticallyonto the hinge 5 thereof and the tension of the spring 4 is directedradially relative to the pivot 7.

When the extension platform section 2 is being either folded or unfoldedfrom the equilibrium position, the spring 4 is extended, causing anincrease of tension into the latter. The linkage and spring arrangementis conceived to produce a tension in the spring 4 in the fully foldedand unfolded positions of the section 2, which almost but not quitecompletely counteracts the weight of the section 2. There results thatthe spring 4 assists the lifting of the section 2 from the folded andunfolded positions, FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively, whereby only a slightforce is required to initiate the lifting operation. After pivoting ofthe extension platform section 2 passed the equilibrium position of FIG.3, the tension of the spring 4 starts to increase and to assist theoperator.

in lowering the section 2 against the action of the weight thereof.

There results that the automatic loading of the spring 4 under theaction of the weight of the section 2, requires only limited energy tobe expanded by the user or operator.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 9 inclusive, the invention is particularlyembodied into a foldable tent trailer including a second pivotedplatform section 10 which forms a cover having a peripheral wall adaptedto confine the extension platform section 2 in the folded position.Contiguous side walls 11 and 12 of the platform sections 1 and 10respectively are hinged together by any suitable hinge 13. The extensionplatform section 10 is similarly pivoted as section 2 by a linkage andspring arrangement including an elbow-shape lever 3', a compensatinglink 6', a pivot 7, and lever arm portions 8' and 9'. A spring 4'interconnects the free ends of the lever arm portions 9 and 9' and isarranged, as

spring 4, to vary its tension in relation to the pivoting of either oneor both pivoted sections 2 and 10 to counterbalance the weight of thelatter.

The main platform section or trailer box 1 is provided with vehiculatingelements of conventional types including a trailer frame 14, road wheelsand a trailer hitch bar 16.

The extension platform section 10 forms a hardtop cover when the unit isfolded for travel or storage and extends the floor surface when in theunfolded position shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 9. In the latter position,the side panel 10' is pivoted at the laterally distal edge 17 of thecover forming section 10 to form a support or beam for the latter, andincludes adjustable legs 18 and a ratractable footstep 19, of anyconvenient construction. The contiguous side walls 11 and 12 of the mainplatform section, or trailer box 1, and the extension platform, section10 are provided with door openings 20 and 21 respectively registeringwith each other to form a passageway extending from one section to theother. Of course, a door or panel, not shown, is provided to close offthe above entry.

A tent material 22, of any suitable kind and construction,is fixed ontothe unfolded platform sections 1, 2, and 10 along the exterior edgesthereof, as indicated by the dashed lines 23 in FIG. 7. Frame members24, 25, and 26 of tubular or panel type are pivotally mounted under thetent material 22 and onto the platform sections 10, l, and 2respectively and extend parallel to the longitudinal hinges 5 and 13. Adoor 27 and window 28 are provided as desired through the tent material22 and into the frame members 24, 25, and 26.

In order to obtain the desired collapse of the tent material 22, aclosing slit 29, provided with a zipper or the like for the closingthereof, is formed at each end of thecover forming section 10 andextends diagonally or otherwise from the lowermost edge thereof adjacentthe wall 21 to the top edge of the frame member 24. The tent material 22is preferably fixed to the top edge of each of the frame members 24, 25,and26, whereby the folding and unfolding of the latter will entrain thetent material, resulting in the production of neat and long folds, asshown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 9. A compact foldingis thus obtained whichhence leaves storage space for camping equipment onto the floor of thetrailer box section 1.

It must be appreciated that the three sections 1, 2, and 10 are ofapproximately the same size and, therefore, produce a foldable tentcamping unit which is arranged, when unfolded, to overlie generallythree times the ground surface overlied when folded. There results anunusually roomy foldable tent trailer.

It shouldbe noted that one set of linkage and spring arrangement isprovided at each end of the traileror camping unit. The set of linkageand spring arrangement unit at the front of,the trailer in FIG. 4, hasbeen omitted to better illustrate the parts of the platform sections andthe tent thereon.

lclaim:

1. In a foldable tent camping unit, the combination comprising a mainplatform section forming a tent trailer box, vehiculating means securedto said tent trailer box to support the latter for travel, one extensionplatform section forming a cover arranged to close the top of said tenttrailer box, hinge means pivotally connecting said main platform sectionto said extension platform section along one edge thereof to allowpivoting of the extension section between a folded transport and storageposition closing said tent trailer box and an unfolded camping positionadjacent said main platform section, lever means connected to said oneextension platform section and arranged to pivot with the latter, arelatively strong tension spring arranged to be anchored relative tosaid main platform section and to said lever means, the latter beingarranged upon pivoting, to change the tension of said spring, toincrease the tension upon approaching said folded and unfoldedpositions, and to decrease Y the tension upon approaching anintermediate equilibrium position.

2. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 1, wherein saidlever means is a linkage pivotally connected to said main platformsection.

3. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 1, wherein saidlever means includes a pivoted lever having a pivot point on said mainplatform section, and said strong tension spring and said extensionplatform section are connected to said lever distally from said pivotpoint and are arranged whereby the weight of said extension platformsection and the force of said tension spring counteract each other.

4. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 1,

wherein said lever means includes an elbow-shape lever having an elbowportion intermediate a pair of lever arm portions, said elbow portiondefines a pivot point onto said main platform section, said strongtension spring and said one extension platform section are connectedeach to a respective one of said lever arm portions and are arranged tocause the tension of said spring to counteract the weight of said oneextension platform section on said elbow-shape lever.

5. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 4, wherein saidelbow-shape lever is constructed and arranged relative to said tensionspring and to said one extension platform section to provide anequilibrium position whereat the weight of the extension platformsection and the tension in said spring are effectively inactive on saidelbow-shape lever.

6. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 1,

further including another extension platform section hingedly connectedto said main platform section along another edge thereof opposite saidone edge and arranged to pivot between a folded and an unfoldedposition, another lever means connected to said another extensionplatform section and arranged to pivot with the latter, both said levermeans are arranged in generally the same transverse plane relative tothe hinge axes of said extension platform sections and the ends of saidtension spring are anchored to said lever means, the latter are bothconstructed and arranged to increase the tension of said spring uponapproaching any of said folded and unfolded positions of any of saidextension platform sections.

7. A foldable tent camping unit comprising three platform sections ofrelatively the same size hinged one to another and arranged to fold oneover another for storage and travel, and to unfold to overlie generallythree times the ground surface overlied when folded, wherein one of saidplatform sections constitutes a main platform section having a pair ofopposite edges, the others of said platform sections constituteextension platform sections, a first hinge means pivotally connects oneof said extension platform sections to one of said opposite edges, asecond hinge means pivotally connects the other of said extensionplatform sections to the other of said opposite edges, said extensionplatform sections are arranged to unfold and extend laterally outwardlyadjacent said opposite edges of said main platform section and whereinsaid main platform section forms a tent trailer box, said one extensionplatform section forms a cover arranged to close the top of said tenttrailer box, said second hinge means is arranged to cause said otherextension platform section to fold under said cover and over said tenttrailer box to allow closing of the latter, and said vehiculating meansis fixed to said tent trailer box to support the latter for travel.

8. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 7, wherein said mainplatform section and said one extension platform section are eachprovided withv a peripheral wall, said peripheral walls are constructedand arranged to laterally confine said other extension platform sectionwhen said extension platform sections are folded into travel position,and said one extension platform section is constructed and arranged,when unfolded, to extend level with the main platform section of saidtrailer box to form a floor extension thereof.

9. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 8, wherein each ofsaid peripheral walls defines a pair of opposite side walls, theopposite side walls of said main platform section extend along saidopposite edges, one of said side walls of said one extension platformsection extends contiguous to one of said side walls of said mainplatform section, said first hinge means pivotally connects saidcontiguous one side walls, the latter are provided with registering dooropenings arranged to form a passageway between said main platformsection and said one extension platform section, when the latter isunfolded, and an access into said trailer box when said one extensionplatform section is folded over said trailer box.

10. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 9, wherein saidother extension platform section forms a relatively shallow boxconstructed and arranged to hold bedding for pivoting displacementtherewith.

11. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 7, furthercomprising a tent including a collapsible tent material peripherallyfixed to said platform sections and arranged to permanently remainperipherally fixed to the latter in both folded and unfolded positionsthereof.

12. A collapsible tent camping unit as defined in claim 11, whereinportions of said tent material which are fixed to said one extensionplatform section and which extend transversely to and adjacent the axisof said one hinge means, are provided with closing slits extendinglaterally outwardly from the bottom edge of said portion adjacent saidaxis and arranged to be opened to allow predetermined collapse of saidtent material.

13. A collapsible tent camping unit as defined in collapsible tentmaterial, the latter is peripherally fixed to said platform sections andarranged to permanently remain peripherally fixed to the latter in bothfolded and unfolded positions thereof, one of said frame members ispivotally mounted to each of said platform sections under saidcollapsible tent material and is arranged to fold into a collapsedposition onto the corresponding platform section and within the confinesof said peripheral walls.

14. A collapsible tent camping unit as defined in claim 13, furtherincluding a pair of elbow-shape levers pivotally connected to each endof said main platform section, and'relatively strong tension springs,each of said elbow-shape levers having an elbow portion and two leverarm portions extending substantially at right angle to each other atsaid elbow portion, said tension springs being positioned intermediatesaid elbow-shape levers and being connected to one lever arm portion ofeach of said levers, and a link pivotally connected to each of the otherlever arm portions and to a corresponding one of said extension platformsections, whereby the tension of said springs counteracts the weights ofsaid extension platform sections and is changed by the pivoting of thelatter to assist folding and unfolding thereof.

15. A collapsible tent camping unit as defined in claim 9, wherein saidoneextension platform section includes a pivoted side panel constructedand arranged to be unfolded into engagement with the ground to form asupporting beam for said one extension platform section.

1. In a foldable tent camping unit, the combination comprising a mainplatform section forming a tent trailer box, vehiculating means securedto said tent trailer box to support the latter for travel, one extensionplatform section forming a cover arranged to close the top of said tenttrailer box, hinge means pivotally connecting said main platform sectionto said extension platform section along one edge thereof to allowpivoting of the extension section between a folded transport and storageposition closing said tent trailer box and an unfolded camping positionadjacent said main platform section, lever means connected to said oneextension platform section and arranged to pivot with the latter, arelatively strong tension spring arranged to be anchored relative tosaid main platform section and to said lever means, the latter beingarranged upon pivoting, to change the tension of said spring, toincrease the tension upon approaching said folded and unfoldedpositions, and to decrease the tension upon approaching an intermediateequilibrium position.
 2. A foldable tent camping unit as defined inclaim 1, wherein said lever means is a linkage pivotally connected tosaid main platform section.
 3. A foldable tent camping unit as definedin claim 1, wherein said lever means includes a pivoted lever having apivot point on said main platform section, and said strong tensionspring and said extension platform section are connected to said leverdistally from said pivot point and are arranged whereby the weight ofsaid extension platform section and the force of said tension springcounteract each other.
 4. A foldable tent camping unit as defined inclaim 1, wherein said lever means includes an elbow-shape lever havingan elbow portion intermediate a pair of lever arm portions, said elbowportion defines a pivot point onto said main platform section, saidstrong tension spring and said one extension platform section areconnected each to a respective one of said lever arm portions and arearranged to cause the tension of said spring to counteract the weight ofsaid one extension platform section on said elbow-shape lever.
 5. Afoldable tent camping unit as defined in claim 4, wherein saidelbow-shape lever is constructed and arranged relative to said tensionspring and to said one extension platform section to provide anequilibrium position whereat the weight of the extension platformsection and the tension in said spring are effectively inactive on saidelbow-shape lever.
 6. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim1, further including another extension platform section hingedlyconnected to said main platform section along another edge thereofopposite said one edge and arranged to pivot between a folded and anunfolded position, another lever means connected to said anotherextension platform section and arranged to pivot with the latter, bothsaid lever means are arranged in generally the same transverse planerelative to the hinge axes of said extension platform sections and theends of said tension spring are anchored to said lever means, the latterare both constructed and arranged to increase the tension of said springupon approaching any of said folded and unfolded positions of any ofsaid extension platform sections.
 7. A foldable tent camping unitcomprising three platform sections of relatively the same size hingedone to another and arranged to fold one over another for storage andtravel, and to unfold to overlie generally three times the groundsurface overlied when folded, wherein one of said platform sectionsconstitutes a main platform section having a pair of opposite edges, theothers of said platform sections constitute extension platform sections,a first hinge means pivotally connects one of said extension platformsections to one of said opposite edges, a second hinge means pivotallyconnects the other of said extension platform sections to the other ofsaid opposite edges, said extension platform sections are arranged tounfold and extend laterally outwardly adjacent said opposite edges ofsaid main platform section and wherein said main platform section formsa tent trailer box, said one extension platform section forms a coverarranged to close the top of said tent trailer box, said second hingemeans is arranged to cause said other extension platform section to foldunder said cover and over said tent trailer box to allow closing of thelatter, and said vehiculating means is fixed to said tent trailer box tosupport the latter for travel.
 8. A foldable tent camping unit asdefined in claim 7, wherein said main platform section and said oneextension platform section are each provided with a peripHeral wall,said peripheral walls are constructed and arranged to laterally confinesaid other extension platform section when said extension platformsections are folded into travel position, and said one extensionplatform section is constructed and arranged, when unfolded, to extendlevel with the main platform section of said trailer box to form a floorextension thereof.
 9. A foldable tent camping unit as defined in claim8, wherein each of said peripheral walls defines a pair of opposite sidewalls, the opposite side walls of said main platform section extendalong said opposite edges, one of said side walls of said one extensionplatform section extends contiguous to one of said side walls of saidmain platform section, said first hinge means pivotally connects saidcontiguous one side walls, the latter are provided with registering dooropenings arranged to form a passageway between said main platformsection and said one extension platform section, when the latter isunfolded, and an access into said trailer box when said one extensionplatform section is folded over said trailer box.
 10. A foldable tentcamping unit as defined in claim 9, wherein said other extensionplatform section forms a relatively shallow box constructed and arrangedto hold bedding for pivoting displacement therewith.
 11. A foldable tentcamping unit as defined in claim 7, further comprising a tent includinga collapsible tent material peripherally fixed to said platform sectionsand arranged to permanently remain peripherally fixed to the latter inboth folded and unfolded positions thereof.
 12. A collapsible tentcamping unit as defined in claim 11, wherein portions of said tentmaterial which are fixed to said one extension platform section andwhich extend transversely to and adjacent the axis of said one hingemeans, are provided with closing slits extending laterally outwardlyfrom the bottom edge of said portion adjacent said axis and arranged tobe opened to allow predetermined collapse of said tent material.
 13. Acollapsible tent camping unit as defined in claim 9, further comprisinga tent including a collapsible tent material and erectable frame membersfor said collapsible tent material, the latter is peripherally fixed tosaid platform sections and arranged to permanently remain peripherallyfixed to the latter in both folded and unfolded positions thereof, oneof said frame members is pivotally mounted to each of said platformsections under said collapsible tent material and is arranged to foldinto a collapsed position onto the corresponding platform section andwithin the confines of said peripheral walls.
 14. A collapsible tentcamping unit as defined in claim 13, further including a pair ofelbow-shape levers pivotally connected to each end of said main platformsection, and relatively strong tension springs, each of said elbow-shapelevers having an elbow portion and two lever arm portions extendingsubstantially at right angle to each other at said elbow portion, saidtension springs being positioned intermediate said elbow-shape leversand being connected to one lever arm portion of each of said levers, anda link pivotally connected to each of the other lever arm portions andto a corresponding one of said extension platform sections, whereby thetension of said springs counteracts the weights of said extensionplatform sections and is changed by the pivoting of the latter to assistfolding and unfolding thereof.
 15. A collapsible tent camping unit asdefined in claim 9, wherein said one extension platform section includesa pivoted side panel constructed and arranged to be unfolded intoengagement with the ground to form a supporting beam for said oneextension platform section.